The head teacher of an unregistered Islamic school, prosecuted for operating illegally, has said it has a "unique" approach and will remain open.
Nadia Ali, of Ambassadors High, in Streatham - which an inspection found "wilfully neglected" safeguarding - was given community service last month.
She called the pupils "happy learners" and denied it was breaking the law, as it was now open 18 hours a week only.
Ofsted has urged improved legislation to deal with unregistered schools.
By law, any institution with more than five full-time pupils has to be officially registered and inspected. Government guidance defines full-time education as more than 18 hours a week.
The south London school, which describes itself as having an Islamic ethos, says it charges £2,500 a year per pupil and had 45 children on the roll at the time of its last inspection. But it has not yet met standards required to register.
Ms Ali told the BBC's Today and Victoria Derbyshire programmes the school had remained open as its work with the children was "quite unique". [BBC] Read more
